Electrode for producing arcs.



G. WAGENER. ELECTRODE FOR PRODUCING ARCS. APPLICATION rum) MAY 1, 1m.

' Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Aim/ME STATiE ATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV WAGENER, OF SCHLEBUSCH-MANFOBT, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. no PON'I DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORYORATIO'N OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4., 1913.

Original application filed November 22, 1911, Serial No. 661,763. Divided and this application filed May 1,

4 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gus'rav \Vnonnan, a

ing at Schlebusch-h/Ianfort, Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement inv Electrodes for Producing Arcs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in electrodes used for producing arcs, and principally for the production of long are lights for carrying out gas reactions. Its object is to considerably reduce the wear and tear of such electrodes where made of metal. This wear and tear of metal electrodes is due to the heat of such are lights for which theyv are the starting point, and occurs even when these metal electrodes are hollow .and are internally cooled by some cooling medium, for instance, water.

In an application filed November 22, 1911, Serial No. 661,7 63, of which this application is adivision, I described and claimed an electrode for minimizing or eliminating said I wear and tear, said electrode comprising a water-cooled metallic electrode embedded in and surrounded by a body, preferably conical-shaped, of cement, clay or similar refractory non-volatile material which, although a non-conductor of electricity at ordinary temperature, is rendered-conductive by heat and acts, after being so heated, to maintain the are. In said application a modification is set forth in which the surrounding body shaped so as to form a cup through the base of which the metallic electrode extends and the upper rim of which extends beyond the end of the metallic electrode. It is this and similar embodiments of my broad invention which is the subject matter that I desire to protect in this patent.

tThe construction will be clear from the drawing, in which the figure represents a sectional View of an electrode embodying my invent-ion.

a is a water-cooled metallic electrode.

1) is a surrounding body of cement, clay or other non-volatile refractorycart-hs. This body is preferably conical in shape, but as Serial No. 684.436.

ametcr oi the cup at its basewl1ere its diameter is least-is greater than the diameter of the metallic electrode; and the internal diameter of the cup at its mouth is of substantially greater diameter than that of the metallic electrode. The metallic electrode is embedded in, and projects above the level of, the base of the cup, but the rim of the wall of the cup projects substantially beyond the end of the metallic electrode. The end of the metallic electrode is thus surrounded by, and spaced from, a wall of refractory earth which projectis beyond the end of the metallic elect-rote. I

It will be understood that the arc is initially formed by the metallic electrode, the surrounding body I) being, when cold, a nonconductcr. As soon, however, as the body I) has been heated sufliciently to cause itto act as a conductor, the are forms at the point e from the rim of the wall of the body. The fresh air entering from the side tends to press the arc toward the metallic electrode; but not only is the atlinity of the are for tlfe surrounding body greater.

than for the metallic electrode due to the cooling of the latter, but the metallic electure. During the mairtenance of the are it assumes different positions along the rim of the body 6.

The metal electrode, itself, is affected but little by the arc, and its wear and tear reduced to a minimum. The surroundirig body is of such material as to be well able to withstand the action of the arc, and furthermore, due to the frequent changing of the starting point of the arc, the full effect of the arc is distributed over a considerable area.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved electrode for producing arcs for carrying out gas reactions, comprising an artificially-cooled metallic electrode and a surrounding body of material normally non-conductive but adapted to be rendered conductive by heat, said surrounding body projecting beyond the end of the metallic electrode and adapted, after its ele- 3. An improved electrode comprising a body of material normally non-conductive but adapted to be rendered conductive by heat, said body havinga cup-shaped recess, and a metallic electrode extending through the base of the cup into said recess.

4'. An improved electrode comprising a cup-shaped body of material normally nonconductive but adapted-to be rendered con- -duet1ve by heat, and a metallic electrode extending through the base of the cup and projecting above the base a distance less than the height of the wall of the cup.

1' '5. An improved electrode comprising ametallic electrode and an'exteriorly shaped conical body, said bodyhaving a recess formed in its narrowest end, of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the metallic electrode and into which recess the metallic electrode extends. we

6. An improved electrode comprising a metallicelectrode and an exteriorly-shaped conical body, said body having a recess formed in its narrowest end, said recess having a Wall sloping inwardly toward the base and said metallic electrode "extending through the base and extending above the base a distance substantially less than the height of said Well.

7. An improved electrode comprising a metallic electrode and a surrounding body of refractory earth in which the electrode is embedded, said body having a Wall sur rounding and spaced from the projecting end of the metallic electrode.

In testimony of which inventior'nl have hereunto set my hand at Cologne, Germany, on this 15th day of April, 1912. I

GUSTAV WAGENER.

' Witnesses:

LOUIS VANooRY, Bnssm F. DUNLAI. 

